Ryan Clark isn’t holding back on his thoughts about Aaron Rodgers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Steelers safety, now a commentator, has had his share of criticisms regarding Rodgers, and with the quarterback now stepping into a role with Clark’s former team, those opinions are becoming even more pointed.
Just last December, Clark labeled Rodgers a “fraud” due to his remarks on NFL coverage. Fast forward to now, and with Rodgers signing on with the Steelers, Clark views this move as a troubling development for Pittsburgh’s fan base. On a recent appearance on “SportsCenter,” he laid out his concerns clearly.
“This is the worst-case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans,” Clark asserted. He emphasized that while the team has improved its quarterback situation—Rodgers undeniably elevates the lineup—he doesn’t see this as a pathway to championship contention. “Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers’ people, fans, and the organization thinks is the standard? No, they won’t,” he asserted decisively.
Clark is certainly realistic about Rodgers’ legacy, acknowledging the quarterback’s inevitable Hall of Fame induction. Yet, he believes this latest move may be too late to make a significant impact: “Five years from when both of these men retire, one of them will give the most motivational Hall of Fame speech we’ve ever heard. Another will probably give the most interesting—and it won’t mean anything.”
The analyst paints a picture of a beckoning wild card playoff spot for the Steelers, yet he is skeptical about advancing beyond that. “They’ll likely be going home during that week, all to look for a franchise quarterback again next offseason,” he predicted.
When he followed up on “Get Up” the following morning, he softened his stance, saying, “I’m not here to bash Aaron Rodgers.” He did express belief that Rodgers represents an upgrade over Mason Rudolph, and perhaps a slight improvement over Russell Wilson’s performance from the previous year. However, he stressed that Rodgers is no longer in elite territory.
Clark noted that “Aaron Rodgers doesn’t walk into the building with the cache that says to the rest of the organization, ‘this is our guy that’s gonna allow us to win a championship.’” Ultimately, he sees this signing as a strategy for the Steelers to avoid being at the bottom of the league, but he doesn’t believe it places them in the upper echelon needed to compete against powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or Baltimore Ravens.
“You can get Aaron Rodgers so you can not stink,” Clark concluded. “That’s it. Other than that, all of us are gonna watch the divisional round, the championship round and the Super Bowl together.”
Clark’s assessments provide plenty of food for thought as Steelers fans try to navigate the implications of this pivotal signing. While the upgrade at quarterback is clear, the bigger picture leaves many wondering if Pittsburgh is truly back in the mix for Super Bowl glory or simply treading water in a challenging AFC landscape.
